Transition coupler



W. E. COF FIN TRANSITION COUPLER Nov. 24 1925.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 16, 1923 A TTOR NE Y .Nov. 24 1925. 1,563,017

w. E. COFFIN TRANSITION COUPLER Filed Feb. 16. 1923 4 Shets-Sheet 2 IN V ENTOR A TTORNE Y .Nov; 24' 1925 1,563,017

' w. E. COFFIN W. E. COFFIN TRANSITION COUPLER Filed Feb.

Nov. 24, 1925.

16, 1923 4 Sheets-Shoat 4.

INVENTOR M L I ATT NEY Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

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TATE

WALTER E. COFFIN, O1 CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSTGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T

NATIONAL MALLEABLE AND STEEL OASTINGfi COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, M

A. CORIORATION OF OHIO.

TRANSITION COUPLER.

Application filed February 16, 1928.

vented new and useful Improvements in Transition Couplers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a plan of a car coupler embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fi g. 3 is a horizontal section through the coupler head; and Figs. 1 and 5 shbw the knuckle in side elevation and rear elevation, respectively. 7 V My invention relates particularly to transitional coupling mechanism and is designed to provide means for permitting cars fitted with automatic couplers to be coupled with cars equipped with couplers of other types, such as of the draw-hook connection type. To this end I have provided a transition or emergency knuckle which may be readily substituted for the ordinary knuckle in a Master Gar Builders typeof coupler and is secured to'the coupler head by the ordinary pivotpin. My improved knuckle is provided with attaching means for the transition link and may be swung into locked or knuckle thrown position by the usual locking and opening mechanism when so attached to provide for or take up slack required for connecting with or disconnecting from a cou pler of the draw-hook connection type. My. invention also comprises the various features.

which I shall hereinafter describe and claim. Referrlng to the drawings, 2 lndicates a i coupler of the Master Car Builders type such as is shown in the application of An thur J. Bazeley, Serial No. 4c81, 168, filed June 30, 1921, but, obviously, may be any coupler head conforming to the lines of the M. G. B. or the standard D coupler types.

The knuckle 3 comprises a suitably formed knuckle with a tail 4;, a hub portion 5 and a link attaching part 6, all of which are made as an integral casting. The knuckle tail 4 is so formed as to fit within the particular design of coupler headwith which the knuckle is to be used. The hub portion 5 is formed for reception of the usual knuckle pin 7, by which it is attached to the coupler cars 18, and may be provided with the pin protector lugs 8 or any other features which may be special to a particular coupler with knuckle 3 Serial No. 619,340.

which it is to be used. Instead of being pro vided with the usual nose or pulling part as in the case of a standard knuckle, my improved knuckle has a link attaching part 6 apertured at 9 to carry a wrought or forged link 10, which lies in a substantially vertical plane, and on the longitudinal center line of the coupler. Attached to the link 10 is also a second link 11. The link 11 is intended to be passed over the draw-hook 12 of an opposing car. My improved knuckle 3 when attached to a coupler head as described is intended to be locked and opened by means of the ordinary locking and opening mechanism normally employed in the coupler, the

lock being indicated as 13 and the opener as 14:.

To couple two cars together, equipped re spectively with couplers 2 and 12, the lock 13 of the automatic coupler 2 is raised, which allows the transition knuckle 3 to swing open, thus providing slack in the chain which is ample to allow the link 10 to pass over the tip of the draw-hook 12. The knuckle 3 is then swung closed, taking up the slack in the links 10 and 11 and permit ting the lock to drop, thus locking the knuckle. When so locked the buffers 15 on the cars are just brought-into contact, as is shown in Fig. 1.

In uncoupling, the lock 13 1s ra1sed, and

the opener 14: swings the transition knuckle 3 open, providing enough slack in the links 10 anl 11 so that the link 11 can be unhooked from the draw-hook 12. In case of coupling on a curve, the buffers 15 on the inside of the curve may come in contact in such manner as to hold the coupler 2 and draw-hook 12 such a distance apart that the transition can not be locked afterthe couplers have been connected by the links 10 and 11. In such a case, as the links 10 and 11 connect the ears together and the knuckle 3 is securely attached to the head 2 by means of the pivot pin 7 even when in open position, this connection permits the cars to be pulled off the curve onto a straight track with the transition knuckle 3 open. When the cars have reached a straight track the knuckle 3 may then be closed and locked.

In bufling, as the buifers 15 are compressed the links 9 and 10 are free to drop down or collapse out of the way of the draw hook 12 and coupler 2. To prevent the draw hook 12 from striking the forward face 16 of the knuckle under extreme buffing conditions the forward face of the knuckle is cut away and extends laterally toward th'e'guard arm 17 some distance to the rear.

is ofgreat advantage.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used=as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any mechanical equivalents of'the features shown and described, or portions thereof, but recognize that various structural modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What-I claim is:

1. In coupler mechanism, an automati: coupler having secured thereto a transitional coupling knuckle arranged to beheld in: transitional I locked position by standard operating mechanism and secured. to the coupler. by the usual pivotv pin, the said knuckle havi11gj its pulling part extending rearwardly into; the recess in the buffing face of the coupler andfhaving" a. vertically'disposed aperture therethrou'gh for reception v of av pullingr link, the said pulling'link coniprisingmeans for attachment to a coupler'of a different-type.

2. In coupler mecha'msm, an automatic L "coupler head; a transitional coupler knuckle securedto the coupler by the usual pivot pin extendlng through ears on said coupler head and arranged to be held in transitional locked position by standard operating mechanism; the said knuckle carrying a coupling link free to swlngin-a vertical plane; all of the knuckle, including its pulling portion, when'in operative locked transitional position lying rearwardly of the forward portion of said coupler ears 3. In coupler. mechanism, an automatic coupler of the Master Car Builders? type having secured thereto a transitional coupler mechanism arranged to be held in transitional locked position by standard operating mechanism and secured to the coupler by the usual pivot pin, the knuckle having a pulling part extending forwardly from inside of the coupler bufling face and laterally fromthe inside face of'the coupler ears, at right anglesvto the knuckle tail, the said extended part having a vertically disposed aperture for reception of a pulling link comprising means for attachment to a coupler of a different type.

4. In coupler mechanism, the combination with an automatic coupler of a transition knuckle, the said knuckle being secured to the said coupler by an ordinary pivot pin and being operated transitionally by an ordinary locking and opening mechanism,rthc forward face of the said knuckle being. ar-

ranged at a distance to the rear of the forward faces of the coupler ears to prevent engagement by acoupler of til-different type during buffing.

5. In coupler mechanism, a combination with an automatic'coupler of a knuckle pivoted'thereto' by an ordinary pivot pin and operated by ordinary locking and knuckle opening mechanism, and transition links carried by the said knuckle and arrangedyto intercouple' withj'a coupler of the draw-hook connectionytype; the said knuckle having a pullinggbearinfg' with one ofnsaid links, the said bearing being lo'cated; a distanceto the rear of the pivot pin. and practically central with the center. line of the couplers.

6. A transitional coupler knuckle comprising a hub'portion having a pivot pin aperture; a tail portion; a locking portion and a pulling portion displaced transversely from the hub and tail portions and connecting hub and lockingportions and providing means for attachment to-a coupler of a different type.

WVALTER E. COFFIN. 

